GB2RS

GB2RS News Sunday the 6th of September 2026 The news headlines: Learn about HF propagation studies at the RSGB Convention Which coding activities will you be trying? WRTC 2026 results have been rescored Are you aware of the GB0PSC Baldock space weather station? The RSGB Propagation Studies Committee recently installed a HamSCI HFRx at Ofcom’s spectrum monitoring site at Baldock. The station is part of HF propagation studies that will allow the Committee to learn more about space weather and its effects including radio blackouts, Doppler flashes and travelling ionospheric disturbances. You can find out how the Committee is progressing with its studies by joining Gwyn Griffiths, G3ZIL on Saturday the 10th of October at the RSGB Convention. If amateur radio construction is something you’d like to find out more about, then join RadCom Plus Editor Paul Marks, G8FVK on Sunday the 11th of October to learn about his approach to modular design of amateur radio equipment. In particular, he’ll be looking at QRP HF and VHF gear, using readily available circuit boards and modules such as the AD831 RF mixer module. You can attend both lectures at the Society’s annual Convention at Kents Hill Conference Centre in Milton Keynes between the 9th and 11th of October. Secure your place via rsgb.org/convention National Coding Week is back this month! To support radio amateurs in building their digital skills and explore the world of programming, the RSGB has shared three new activities for you to try. The first builds on the Python Pocket Morse activity developed last year and guides radio amateurs to use a BBC Micro:bit to send Morse code either on a telegraph wire or wirelessly. The second is ‘Ener-G use’ which is great for unlicensed and younger radio amateurs and allows them to compare increasing forces and energy use with a fun Micro:bit activity. The third activity is based on the Raspberry Pi Pico 2W. It is a demonstration of Pulse Width Modulation and uses just a couple of components, including an LED and a resistor, and will give you a better understanding of the concept of duty cycle. All three activities are available via rsgb.org/coding  You can try them at home, set up a practical club night or use them as an activity with a youth or school group. Let the Society know how you get on by sending photos and a summary to ncw.coordinator@rsgb.org.uk by the 30th of September. Following the conclusion of the on-site WRTC 2026 adjudication process at Wyboston, UK on the 13th of July 2026, significant new information became available resulting in necessary further work by the Judging Committee. In order for the WRTC event to be reflective of the most accurate assessment of contesting conduct and ability, the Organising Committee and Sanctioning Committee agreed collectively to support this work and have now published revised scores. This report voids and replaces the previously announced results. To read the full report visit wrtc2026.org Don’t forget that the RSGB Tonight@8 webinar series is back tomorrow night, Monday the 7th  of September. Join RSGB Board Director Patrick Wood, 2E0IFB live for a presentation on amateur radio and the future of satellite communication. You’ll also be able to hear how you can get involved with World Space Week, which takes place from the 4th to the 10th of October. The webinar will contain lots of useful information on how your club can host an event and show that amateur radio is part of space exploration, education and communication. Watch the webinar and ask questions via the RSGB YouTube channel or special BATC channel. Find out more at rsgb.org/webinars The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station programme is an opportunity for educational organisations to host an amateur radio contact with a crew member on board the International Space Station. The window to submit an application is now open and ends on the 23rd of October 2026. This is for a contact to take place between July to D

GB2RS News Sunday the 30th of August 2026 RSGB Board Chair change as part of planned transition Tonight@8 is back! Last chance to buy your RSGB Convention ticket at early bird prices  The RSGB Board is pleased to announce that, following its meeting on the 22nd of August 2026, Graham Smith, G4NMD has been appointed Chair of the Board. This appointment forms part of a planned and orderly leadership transition agreed by the Board. Stewart Bryant, G3YSX, who has served as Chair since 2023 with distinction, fully supports the change and will remain a Director until the 2027 AGM. He will continue to contribute his considerable experience to the Society and its activities. Licensed since 1974, Graham has been active in many areas of amateur radio, including service as an RSGB District Representative, RAYNET-UK Controller and member of the Emergency Communications and Resilience Group. Since joining the Board, he has led work on resilience, volunteer development, and governance improvement, as well as serving as Board Liaison for Training and Education. The Board looks forward to continuing its work with volunteers, members and staff across the Society as it delivers its strategic priorities and supports the amateur radio community throughout the UK and beyond. For the full announcement please see the RSGB Notices section of the RSGB website. The Tonight@8 autumn programme begins on Monday the 7th of September with an engaging webinar on amateur radio and the future of satellite communication. RSGB Board Director Patrick Wood, 2E0IFB will be delivering a presentation that will start with a brief history on the subject before looking ahead to the future. He will touch on FUNcube developments, FUNcube+ and missions such as Jovian-1, whilst also considering how radio amateurs are now using geostationary satellites like QO-100. He will also ask how radio amateurs can adapt their skills and equipment for a rapidly changing communications world. Patrick is an expert in the subject having had a 38-year career in the aerospace, defence, and space sectors, with over 30 years dedicated to the space sector. RSGB webinars are live streamed on its YouTube channel and special BATC channel, allowing you to watch the presentations and ask questions online. Find out more about September’s presentation and other upcoming webinars, by going to rsgb.org/webinars The RSGB Convention ‘NanoVNA Essentials’ workshop has now sold out! Make sure you don’t miss out on the remaining spaces for the two other workshops by securing your ticket now. On Friday the 9th of October you can take part in a five-and-a-half-hour workshop offering practical advice on identifying the sources and mitigating the effects of Radio Frequency Interference. On the afternoon of Saturday the 10th of October or the morning of Sunday the 11th of October you can take part in a two-hour workshop offering practical and interactive exercises that show you how to use AI more effectively in your own amateur radio projects. Both workshops are available to purchase at the same time as your Convention ticket. Go to rsgb.org/convention-workshops  to book your place. Don’t forget that you only have until 9am on Tuesday the 1st of September to purchase your ticket at the early bird pricing. Time is running out to submit your nominations for the annual RSGB G5RP Trophy. You have until Friday the 11th of September to send in a nominee who has recently discovered and made significant progress in HF DXing. Perhaps you know someone who has worked a good total of new countries, or perhaps they have taken part in some substantial HF DXpedition activity. Please send your nominations to RSGB HF Manager Ian Greenshields, G4FSU at hf.manager@rsgb.org.uk The DMR Youth Net, organised by the RSGB Youth Committee, is back at 7pm BST on Tuesday the 1st of September following a break over the summer holidays. Since the launch of the net in 2025, young operators have joined from across Europe to build

GB2RS News Sunday the 23rd of August 2026   The news headlines: View the action-packed RSGB Convention programme  Find out more about Experimenters’ Corner at Hamfest The RSGB continues to support young radio amateurs   The RSGB has released the full draft programme for its Convention, which takes place between the 9th and 11th of October at Kents Hill Park Conference Centre in Milton Keynes. The programme includes details of the inspiring lectures that have been lined up for your enjoyment. They have been organised into three engaging streams: Learn, Connect and Inspire. You’ll also find three newly announced speakers. John Carter, N6YU will be talking about “The spec is the new schematic: Reproducible station software with spec-driven development” whilst Paul Marks, G8FVK will explain “A modular approach to construction”. Dr Tom Cheetham from Bletchley Park will give a fascinating historical presentation called “The Fox shall not escape: The RSGB and signals interception during WWII”. The Society has also announced that it has extended its early-bird pricing until 9am on Tuesday the 1st of September. This means you can snap up your weekend ticket for only £49, which gives you access not only to the programme, but also to the AMSAT-UK Colloquium, Special Interest Groups, a great social scene, and much more. View the programme and secure your ticket by going to rsgb.org/convention Do you enjoy amateur radio construction? Or perhaps you enjoy trying out new and emerging technology? Each month RSGB Board Director Mark Jones, G0MGX writes a column called ‘Experimenters’ Corner’ for RadCom, which focuses on a new aspect of experimenting within amateur radio. He has also been giving a brief introduction to each column in a monthly reel shared on the Society’s social media channels. Mark covers topics ranging from home-brew construction techniques and 3D-printing to software development and cost-saving tips. You can speak to Mark and talk about his column at this year’s Hamfest at the Newark Showground on the 25th and 26th of September. He will be in the RSGB village with a selection of interactive displays which you won’t want to miss. You can find out more on Experimenters’ Corner by going to rsgb.org/experimenters-corner The Youngsters On the Air Summer Camp 2026 took place in Wagrain [VAH-GRAIN], Austria earlier this month. If you missed out on the daily updates sent by the team of young radio amateurs who represented the RSGB, go to rsgb.org/yota-camp  The daily blogs, photos and some fantastic sketches will remain on the Society’s website to view in your own time. If you are a young radio amateur looking to meet like-minded people, have you seen the youth activities being offered at this year’s RSGB Convention? There will be a wide range of youth-specific activities to inspire you, including an update from the YOTA team. Go to rsgb.org/convention-youth  to find out more. You can also get involved with youth activities in December by taking part in YOTA Month. The RSGB will once again be taking part in this special IARU initiative, which encourages young amateur radio operators to get on the air, make contacts around the world, and promote the hobby among young people. Keep an eye out for announcements on how to get involved by going to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/yota-month  In the USA, the FCC has released a further proposal for new commercial satellite allocations that overlap existing amateur spectrum. This time the 900MHz, 2.4GHz and 5.7GHz bands are the topic. The ARRL has already made an initial response. Further information and links for this are available via rsgb.org/spectrum-forum  This follows the unwelcome FCC authorisation of 70cm last year for telemetry for a 248-satellite constellation. For more information on satellite challenges visit tinyurl.com/rsgbsf2026 This year’s British Inland Waterways on the Air event will run from Saturday the 29th until Monday the 31st of August. The event is open t

GB2RS News Sunday the 16th of August 2026 The news headlines: Apply for the new RSGB Training and Development Lead Honorary Officer vacancy Get ready for National Coding Week 2026! Build a radio workshop at the RSGB National Radio Centre The RSGB is launching a new Training and Development Lead pilot. This is a 12-month volunteer Honorary Officer role for someone who cares deeply about how people learn, progress and stay active in amateur radio. The pilot will focus on listening, mapping, evidence gathering and supporting the training community. If you enjoy connecting people and want to build bridges across the training landscape, this role could be for you. To find out more about the role go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/volunteers  To discuss the role informally, please contact Board Director Graham Smith, G4NMD via g4nmd@rsgb.org.uk  Applications close on the 18th of September and interviews will take place during the week of the 28th of September 2026. National Coding Week returns between the 14th and 20th of September, bringing a fantastic opportunity for radio amateurs of all ages to build confidence in digital skills and explore the world of programming. This year, the RSGB Outreach Team has released three coding activities designed especially for National Coding Week. These are available on the RSGB website via rsgb.org/coding  for all members to enjoy and they will also be shared directly with youth groups. Whether you’re a complete beginner or are already tech savvy, there’ll be something fun and accessible for everyone. You’ll also find a coding feature in the September edition of RadCom. The RSGB National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park is hosting another of its popular Build Your Own Radio workshops. Morning and afternoon sessions will be held on Thursday the 27th of August and will offer young people aged between 12 and 18 the opportunity to learn more about amateur radio and electronics. The workshops are funded by the Radio Communications Foundation and allow participants to build their own VHF FM broadcast receiver, which they can take home with them. Attendance at the workshop costs £11. You can find out more and secure your place by selecting the ‘What’s on’ menu at bletchleypark.org.uk The RSGB has launched some new web pages demonstrating how amateur radio aligns with the STEM curriculum. Whichever part of the hobby you enjoy, you’re bound to be using skills relating to Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths every day! And what better way to encourage people into STEM-related study or careers than getting them involved in amateur radio. If you want to give back to the hobby, why not consider becoming a registered STEM Ambassador for amateur radio. The RSGB already has a fantastic team of volunteers who are STEM Ambassadors and use their skills and passion to showcase wireless communication to young people. Why not join them? You can find out how you can get involved at rsgb.org/stem The IARU has published the fourth edition of ‘Ethics and Operating Procedures for the Radio Amateur’, bringing together updated guidance and best practice for radio amateurs around the world. The latest edition also includes improved accessibility features for those with visual impairments. Whether you’re newly licensed or have been on the air for many years, it’s a useful reminder of the operating standards, courtesy and good practice that help make amateur radio enjoyable for everyone. The RSGB welcomes this updated guide and is particularly pleased that the RSGB Operating Advisory Service Coordinator Ian Suart, GM4AUP, was among those who contributed to its development. The Society would like to thank Ian, and everyone involved, for the considerable time, expertise and effort that has gone into producing this important resource for the international amateur radio community. To find out more and read the new edition, go to tinyurl.com/rsgb-eop The RSGB is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Peter Ch

GB2RS News Sunday the 9th of August 2026 The news headlines: RSGB announces updated Contest Entry Policy Take part in solar eclipse experiments with the RSGB Propagation Studies Committee Improved RSGB Course and Exam finder is now available The RSGB Board has approved an updated Contest Entry Policy following a review, consultation and careful consideration. From the 1st of January 2027, eligibility to participate in RSGB contests will be open to all appropriately licensed radio amateurs, regardless of nationality or location. Entry will be subject only to the legal and regulatory obligations applicable to both the Society and the entrant, together with the relevant contest rules and any applicable RSGB membership requirements. The implementation date has been chosen to allow the Society's HF and VHF Contest Committees sufficient time to prepare contest administration and adjudication systems ahead of the 2027 contest season. The Board considers that this approach reflects the long-established principles of amateur radio, including friendship, cooperation and goodwill between individual operators across national boundaries. It is also consistent with the principles promoted by the International Amateur Radio Union, encouraging international understanding and cooperation through amateur radio. The policy also ensures that all RSGB activities continue to comply with applicable legal and regulatory obligations. The Board is grateful to the Board subgroup, the members of the HF and VHF Contest Committees, and everyone who contributed to the review of this policy, including the many members who took the time to submit their comments and observations. Full details of the updated Contest Entry Policy are available on the RSGB website. There will be a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday the 12th of August and the RSGB’s Propagation Studies Committee would like your help with some radio experiments. There are three ways that RSGB members can get involved and support the Committee in investigating how the Sun’s ultraviolet and X-ray output affects our ionosphere and how radio waves are propagated. If you are active on the lower bands, including medium wave, 80m and perhaps even 40m, you can report back on your findings on how transmissions are impacted during the eclipse. Alternatively, you could run WSPR on 160, 80 and 40m during the main eclipse period and then repeat the exercise, either the day before or the day after so comparisons can be drawn. Or you could take part in two specially organised RSGB contests on 80m CW and 40m FT8. These are open to non-RSGB members as well. For more details go to rsgb.org/psc  and select ‘Projects’ from the right-hand menu. The Course and Exam finder page on the RSGB website is now back online at rsgb.org/examfinder  The application has been completely redeveloped, following major works on the Society’s website this summer. It now features a fully responsive layout for mobile devices, plus a clearer and more accessible user interface. You’ll find colour-coded banners for the exam levels offered by each club, plus useful and easy to read accessibility information for each venue. Training providers and exam centres are reminded that any updates need to be submitted to the RSGB Examinations Team via exams@rsgb.org.uk by 3.30pm each Friday, for them to appear the following week. You have one week left to secure your RSGB Convention ticket at early bird prices. Weekend tickets currently stand at £49 and are available until Sunday the 16th of August. Your weekend ticket gives you access to two days’ worth of engaging and informative content from over 40 speakers, including the AMSAT-UK colloquium. Buy your ticket at rsgb.org/convention  Find out what else is going on during the weekend by selecting ‘What else is happening at the RSGB 2026 Convention?’ from the right-hand menu of the Convention web pages. Ofcom and the RSGB have formally signed the Memorandum of Understanding under which th

GB2RS News Sunday the 2nd of August 2026   The news headlines: Exciting opportunities within the RSGB Regional Team RSGB Examinations Standards Committee publishes annual report  Changes to the Youth Committee An exciting volunteer opportunity has arisen to lead the RSGB Regional Team following the decision by George Crawford, GM1DSV to stand down as Regional Forum Chair once the right candidate is appointed. The RSGB would like to express its thanks to George who will be focusing his time on serving Region 1 as its Regional Representative. The role of Regional Forum Chair is ideal for someone who is passionate about amateur radio, teamwork and empowering volunteers. This is a standout volunteer opportunity for someone who wants to make a meaningful impact across all regions, support our dedicated Regional and District Representatives, and strengthen the connection between members, volunteers and the wider organisation. The RSGB is also looking for a Regional Forum Secretary to support the smooth running of activity behind the scenes. This is a fantastic volunteer opportunity for someone who thrives on coordination, communication and teamwork, and wants to play a key role in supporting the Regional Team Chair and the entire Regional Forum. Find out more about both roles, along with details of how to apply, by going to rsgb.org/volunteers  You can use the same link to find out about District Representative roles in various regions around the country. The RSGB Examinations Standards Committee, or ESC, has published its annual report, relating to activities in 2025. The report shows that, although overall candidate numbers in 2025 decreased a little compared with 2024, they remain about 20% higher than predictions based on the extrapolation of pre-2019 trends. The ESC believes that this is largely due to the increased accessibility of training courses and examinations online. The ESC noted that the initial feedback received from candidates on the publication of the Full level question bank has been very positive. However, a few months of exam data are needed before the full impact of the measure can be assessed, and then consideration given to rolling it out at other levels. You can read the report by going to rsgb.org/esc  and choosing the ‘Minutes, papers and reports’ tab on the righthand side of the web page. RSGB Board Director and Board liaison for the Youth Committee Nathan Nuttall, MM9OCC has announced that the RSGB Youth Chair Chris Aitken, MM0WIC has stepped down from his role as Chair. Chris, who is a teacher at Wick High School, has secured an ARISS contact for his school and will be using his time to focus on activities surrounding this. The current RSGB Youth Vice-Chair Leon Shaw, M0VUF will step up as Chair and the RSGB Youth Champion for Scouts Sam McCutchion, M0UEL will take on the Vice-Chair position. Sam will continue in his role as Scout Champion until a suitable replacement can be found. The RSGB is preparing to launch a new Training and Development Lead pilot role to help rebuild structured engagement with trainers, support new licensees, and strengthen the wider training environment. This 12-month pilot will focus on listening, mapping, evidence gathering and supporting the training community. Some initial information was outlined in the August RadCom strategy update and more details will be shared in August, including how trainers and providers can get involved. The July 2026 issue of RadCom Basics is now available in the RSGB mobile and web app for members to enjoy. RadCom Basics is aimed at newcomers to amateur radio and those who enjoy refreshing their skills and knowledge. The July issue includes articles on DMR for beginners, RF connectors and dummy loads. The full collection of RadCom Basics back issues can be found in the RSGB app or via rsgb.org/radcom Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk  The deadline for submissions is 10am on Thursdays before t

GB2RS News Sunday the 26th of July 2026 The news headlines: Youth activity at the RSGB 2026 Convention Keep up to date with the YOTA camp in Austria RSGB Club Finder back online Are you a young radio amateur? Have you secured your RSGB Convention ticket yet? This year’s Convention at Kents Hill Park Conference Centre in Milton Keynes will include a wider range of youth-specific activities. This is being arranged by the RSGB Youth Committee in tandem with the main Convention organising team. You’ll find a youth forum with ten-minute lightning talks on youth-focused topics, as well as an opportunity to share your practical projects. There will be a youth panel discussion on how the radio amateur community can encourage and support young people coming into amateur radio. To top that off there will be a chance to get involved with a POTA activation and join an informal youth dinner on the Saturday night. This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to meet with like-minded people, develop your network and have lots of fun. If you’re under 21, you will receive free admission to the RSGB Convention. Tickets do not need to be pre-booked and are given on the day. If you’re under the age of 16 you will need to be accompanied by a responsible adult. If you are aged over 21, buy your ticket at rsgb.org/convention This year’s Youngsters On The Air summer camp is taking place in the Austrian Alps from the 25th of July to the 1st of August. A team of four young radio amateurs has been selected by the RSGB Youth Committee to represent the Society. The group will be spending six days engaging with like-minded youngsters and learning more about amateur radio. They’ll be taking part in a range of activities including Summits on the Air and also experimenting with underground propagation. From tomorrow, the 27th, you will be able to see regular updates from the group by going to rsgb.org/yota-camp  and selecting ‘YOTA Austria 2026’ from the right-hand menu. You can also see updates via the Society’s Facebook, Instagram and X pages. The Club Finder on the RSGB website is now back online at rsgb.org/clubfinder  This has been completely redeveloped and now features a fully responsive layout for mobile devices, plus a much clearer and more accessible interface. Clubs are reminded to check their data and to submit any required updates via their club’s Membership Services portal or by emailing membership@rsgb.org.uk  Data in Club Finder is updated at 3.30pm every Friday, so please submit updates by then, so that they appear the following week. RSGB members and non-members alike can read the report on this month’s World Radiosport Team Championship in the RSGB’s August publications. The report, written by WRTC Organising Committee member Keith Haynes, G3WRO is available to members via RadCom and to non-members via the Affiliated Clubs Newsletter in the RSGB app. This can be viewed online, on a tablet or mobile phone. Also, you can catch up on all the WRTC livestream videos and additional content at youtube.com/@WRTC2026 The first of this year’s International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekends will run from 0001UTC on Saturday the 15th to 2400UTC on Sunday the 16th of August. The event usually attracts more than 500 lighthouse entries located in over 40 countries. To register for the event, and view a list of participating stations, visit illw.net Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk  The deadline for submissions is 10am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week.  And now for details of rallies and events On Sunday the 2nd of August, Part 1 of the 2026 British Amateur Television Club Convention 2026 will be held at Midland Air Museum, Rowley Road, Coventry CV3 4FR. The event will run from 10am to 4pm and include show-and-tell, test and fix-it and bring-and-buy elements. There will be comprehensive test facilities available for all bands from 144MHz to 24GHz. Non-members are welcome. For more information

GB2RS News Sunday the 12th of July 2026 The news headlines: Upcoming IARU Region 1 Conference WRTC 2026 is supported by the RSGB Have you enabled RSGB app notifications on your mobile device? The IARU Region 1 Conference is held every three years. The next one will be in September 2026 and will be hosted by the Austrian member society ÖVSV, which is also celebrating its centenary. Reports and proposals on a wide range of amateur radio topics are available from the conference website at conf.iaru-r1.org/documents  The scope includes the more regular topics such as band plans, spectrum matters, EMC and youth. This particular event will also consider updates for amateur radio development, operating and organisational matters. The RSGB has contributed several inputs. More about the event will be shared via the Society’s comms channels and a future edition of RadCom. This year’s World Radiosport Team Championship is taking place in East Anglia in the UK between the 8th and 13th of July. The RSGB is an official partner to the event and representatives from the Society have been on site throughout the week. The team has been supporting various activities including media liaison to raise awareness for WRTC 2026, the RSGB and amateur radio as a whole. You can see coverage of the event in a range of radio and online outlets including BBC Radio Shropshire, BBC News Online, Shropshire Live and the East Anglia Gazette. Links to the coverage are available on the RSGB website. Volunteers at the RSGB National Radio Centre have been busy welcoming competitors, referees, and supporters of WRTC to the Centre, with some enjoying time operating the GB3RS station. Keep up to date with more WRTC news, including the winners of the Championship, by visiting  wrtc2026.org Remember to enable RSGB app notifications on your mobile device to be the first to hear when the Society releases the latest edition of RadCom and its sister publications. You’ll also be notified when new editions are added to the collection of back issues. For iOS devices, go to Settings then tap Apps. Locate the RSGB app in the list, and toggle to allow notifications. For Android devices, go to Settings, navigate to Notifications and then tap on App notifications. Locate the RSGB app in the list and toggle to allow notifications. If you haven’t yet downloaded the RSGB app, get the links by going to rsgb.org/radcom RSGB General Manager Steve Thomas, M1ACB visited the RSGB National Radio Centre earlier this month. Steve was on site to deliver two awards to volunteers including the Norman Keith Adams prize and another for outstanding services to the Centre. The RSGB National Radio Centre Coordinator Martyn Baker, G0GMB is currently looking for friendly and enthusiastic radio amateurs to join this successful team. If you are able to volunteer a minimum of one, or preferably two, days per month, find out more about the role by visiting rsgb.org/volunteers  Don’t forget to listen out for all of the stations that will be on the air today, the 12th, during the 145 Alive event. From 1100 to 1400UTC, many hundreds of operators will be on the air using 145MHz FM and 144MHz SSB. For more information, go to the 145 Alive Facebook page or email 145aliveuk@gmail.com Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk  The deadline for submissions is 10am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week.    And now for details of rallies and events Today, the 12th, McMichael Radio and Electronics Rally is taking place at White Waltham Airfield, Maidenhead, SL6 3LW. The doors are open from 8am for traders and to the public from 9am. The entry fee for visitors is £4 per person. More details are available at mcmichaelrally.org.uk On Sunday the 19th, Lincoln Short Wave Club Summer Radio Rally will take place at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. The doors open at 10am and admission costs £3. This in an indoor event and ample free car parking will

GB2RS News Sunday the 5th of July 2026 The news headlines: Don’t miss the WRTC award opportunities New EMC workshop added to the RSGB Convention programme The RSGB has announced a new Legacy Committee Chair The World Radiosport Team Championship is nearly here! Fifty teams from around the world will come to the UK to compete in the prestigious event, and you have an opportunity to work these special stations and apply for your award. The WRTC contest will be live on a dedicated online platform provided by World Radio League. This is a live scoreboard where you can track your favourite team in real time. Also, when you contact one of the special WRTC stations, you can see it on the WRL platform. If you’re an SSB operator, there are 250 possible QSOs across 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10m. Similarly, there are 250 possible QSOs if you are a CW operator. Certificates will be downloadable after the contest, and these will display your total number of QSOs made with the special callsigns. There are different award tiers depending on how many you contact. For full details go to wrtc2026.org  and under the competition tab on the righthand side of the page you will see the Awards section. If you want practical advice on identifying the source, and mitigating the effects of, Radio Frequency Interference, the Society’s ‘Finding RFI workshop’ is for you. Part tutorial, part hands-on workshop, the session is an opportunity for RSGB members to learn from RFI experts within the RSGB EMC Committee. Running on Friday the 9th of October at Kents Hill Park Conference Centre in Milton Keynes, the morning will cover sources and effects of RFI with examples of radiated and conducted emissions. In the afternoon, you’ll be exploring radiated emissions by constructing a small loop antenna. Attendees will also see how to use SDR to identify signals and measure their strength. SDR hardware will kindly be provided by SDRplay. You will also be able to seek advice on any RFI problems you may have. You are welcome to join this workshop even if you are not attending the rest of the RSGB 2026 Convention. To find out more and secure your spot visit rsgb.org/convention-workshops The RSGB Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Nuttall, M5BAN as the new Chair of the RSGB Legacy Committee. Brian already has experience of the Legacy Committee having been a member for the last three years. He has been licensed since 2007 and brings extensive amateur radio experience to the role. The RSGB Honorary Treasurer Chris Wood, GD6TWF is the Board Liaison for the Legacy Committee. Chris says that he is looking forward to working with Brian to develop the role of the Legacy Committee and how it operates. You can find out more about the work of the Committee by going to rsgb.org/legacy The RSGB Youth Committee Chair, Chris Aitken, MM0WIC has announced that two new Youth Champions have joined the Committee. Angus Dare, M7NZM is the new Youth Champion for Cadets, whilst Katelyn How, M9KFH is the Youth Champion for Guides. Each has a good level of experience in leading in their respective fields and the Youth Committee is looking forward to seeing youth engagement progress in both areas. Sam McCutchion, M0UEL will continue as the Youth Champion for Scouts. You can contact each of the Champions via the email addresses shown at rsgb.org/youth RSGB representatives attended the Ham Radio exhibition in Friedrichshafen last week. They used the opportunity to talk to the wider amateur radio community, liaise with international colleagues and raise awareness and support for the Society and amateur radio in the UK. The team was delighted by the positive response to the RSGB app and international membership and were happy to welcome new members from around the world. GB2RS Newsreader Esther, GI0AZA also attended the event and read the Society’s weekly broadcast from Germany. Look out for a fuller report on Friedrichshafen in the August issue of RadCom. The RSGB Board w

GB2RS News Sunday the 28th of June 2026 The news headlines: Join Tonight@8 in July to learn about this summer’s solar eclipse and how you can take part New speakers confirmed for the RSGB 2026 Convention Send your nominations for the RSGB G5RP Trophy Did you know that a solar eclipse will be visible in the UK this Summer? It will be a total eclipse for areas west of the UK and at its maximum there will be about 90% totality. This lends itself to unique opportunities for HF propagation experiments, and you can get involved! In a special Tonight@8 on Monday the 6th of July, RSGB Propagation Studies Committee Chair Steve Nichols, G0KYA will explain how the Committee has been drawing up plans for RSGB members to participate. These include experiments with monitoring medium wave stations in the UK, Morocco and Algeria. An 80m CW contest is also being arranged and other radio amateurs are being encouraged to run WSPR on 80m during the eclipse. During the webinar, Steve will outline what you can expect and why, as well as how you can take part. You can join the webinar and ask questions live via the RSGB’s YouTube channel or special BATC channel. You can view the latest Tonight@8 programme by visiting rsgb.org/webinars Are you up to date on the latest developments in the Microwave community? Or perhaps you’d like to learn about Low Earth Orbiting satellites? Maybe you’d like to improve your knowledge on the pioneering women of British amateur radio? Or are you interested in understanding your SDR through IQ visualisation? These are all topics that the RSGB is excited to have on the programme for its upcoming Convention between the 9th and 11th of October 2026. You can see the full speaker list by going to rsgb.org/convention  and selecting ‘RSGB 2026 Convention – speakers’ from the righthand menu. The Society has confirmed that it has frozen ticket prices, and you can buy this year’s ticket at last year’s price! This means you can make the most of the early-bird pricing and buy your weekend ticket for just £49. Buy your ticket now and enjoy a weekend of learning, inspiration and making connections. The RSGB G5RP Trophy is an annual award to encourage newcomers to HF DXing. The award is open to anyone who has recently discovered and made significant progress in HF DXing. If you are an established HF DXer and want to recommend someone to be awarded the G5RP Trophy for 2026, now is the time to send in your nomination. Your nominee should be an up-and-coming HF DXer who has made rapid progress in the last year and has some real achievements to show, for example, a good total of new countries worked or some substantial HF DXpedition activity. Please send your nominations to RSGB HF Manager Ian Greenshields, G4FSU via hf.manager@rsgb.org.uk  The deadline for nominations is Friday the 11th of September 2026. Are you studying for your Foundation or Intermediate level exam? Did you know that the RSGB recently released three new mock exams for each level? The new papers take into account all the changes to the syllabus and exam question bank that have been made since the last sets of mock exam papers were published. Make sure you are using these latest versions for your revision by going to rsgb.org/mock-exams The famous Grimeton Radio Station will be on the air on Sunday the 5th of July. The unique Alexanderson alternator, with the callsign SAQ, is scheduled for two transmissions on 17.2kHz using CW. At 0830UTC, the alternator will be started up and at 0900UTC the first transmission will take place. A second transmission is scheduled for 1300UTC. You can read more about the event and the historic transmitter at alexander.n.se And finally, don’t forget to listen out for all the amateur stations that will be on the air for International Museums on the Air today, the 28th of June. For more information about the event visit tinyurl.com/imota2026 Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk  The deadline for

GB2RS News Sunday the 21st of June 2026 The news headlines: The RSGB QSL Bureau issues final notice on the use of the old address The RSGB Intruder Watch team is looking for volunteers Join the RSGB in commemorating the closure of BBC Radio 4’s Long Wave service on 198kHz The RSGB QSL Bureau has issued a final notice to those still using the old QSL Bureau address. A new system was introduced in January 2026 and users of the Bureau were advised that all outgoing QSL cards now need to be sent to RSGB QSL Bureau, PO Box 73, 20 St. Loyes Street, Bedford, MK40 1ZL. Anything sent to the old address from Wednesday the 1st of July 2026 will either be returned by Royal Mail, where the address is known, or otherwise is likely to be lost or destroyed. Details of the new RSGB QSL Service can be found at rsgb.org/qsl  The RSGB would also like to remind amateurs with G7 callsigns that the new sub-manager is Anthony Holles, G4AAV. Anthony has many cards waiting to be sent but has received very few stamped addressed envelopes, so please make contact with him if you wish to receive your cards. Contact details for all sub-managers can be found by selecting ‘List of QSL sub-managers’ from the right-hand menu on the QSL Bureau web pages. The RSGB Monitoring System, more popularly known as Intruder Watch, is a service that monitors the primary amateur service allocations. The team reports any unauthorised transmissions to the IARU Intruder Watch team and, where appropriate, Ofcom. The RSGB Intruder Watch Coordinator Ian Suart, GM4AUP is looking for volunteers to assist the team with this important service. You would monitor the amateur allocations as required and pass any concerns to Ian. If you’d like to find out more, contact Ian at iw@rsgb.org.uk The RSGB, together with the BBC Amateur Radio Group, will be marking the closure of BBC Radio 4’s Long Wave service on 198kHz. The Long Wave transmitting stations at Droitwich in Worcestershire, Westerglen near Stirling in Scotland and Burghead overlooking the Moray Firth also in Scotland, will all be closed down on Saturday the 27th of June 2026. The special event station GB1500M will be active from today, Sunday the 21st, until Sunday the 28th of June. Three radio clubs will also be commemorating the closure by activating special callsigns. A commemorative QSL card is available. You can find out more by going to rsgb.org/longwave-transmitters  You can also find out how to become a GB1500M activator using the same link. Ham Radio 2026 takes place in Friedrichshafen this week from the 26th to the 28th of June. For the first time ever, the event will bring together amateur radio and astronomy in a single platform as the Astro trade fair will take place alongside the Ham Radio exhibition. The opening event will provide information on current developments in amateur radio and the many connections between radio technology and astronomy, which are central to this year’s trade show focus. RSGB President Bob Beebe, GU4YOX is one of the guest speakers at the opening event. He will speak about the collaboration between DARC and the RSGB in providing an updated QSL Bureau Service for RSGB members – an innovative project that brings amateur radio together across borders. If you’re going to Friedrichshafen this year, why not come along to the RSGB stand and say hello – the team would love to see you! International Women in Engineering Day is on Tuesday the 23rd of June and has the theme of Engineering Intelligence. The day is an opportunity to recognise the women engineers who solve complex challenges and help drive change. STEM subjects, which include engineering, can be an effective way for the RSGB to introduce amateur radio to new audiences and young people. The RSGB has supported this day over a number of years and has interviewed women to find out how amateur radio has helped them in their STEM careers. You can read these profiles by going to rsgb.org/inwed The RSGB Youth Committee has announc

GB2RS News Sunday the 14th of June 2026 The news headlines: IARU President announced as the keynote speaker for the RSGB 2026 Convention The RSGB has updated its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy Make use of the RSGB Full question bank Four years ago, IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA shared his thoughts on the changes and challenges to the amateur service and what the future held for amateur radio. On Saturday the 10th of October 2026, Tim will return to the RSGB Convention and in his presentation he will touch on whether the future turned out as expected! Tim is currently serving his fourth term as IARU President and the RSGB is delighted to welcome him back as the keynote speaker. Buy your ticket for the RSGB Convention by going to rsgb.org/convention  As well as the keynote, the Society has a speaker programme that will bring radio amateurs a wide-ranging selection of lectures. Whether you are keen to enhance your knowledge on propagation, FT8, or you want to learn more on VHF and above, there is something for everyone. You can keep up to date with the latest speakers by visiting the Convention speaker page. The RSGB Convention takes place between the 9th and 11th of October 2026 at Kents Hill Conference Centre in Milton Keynes. The RSGB is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and accessible amateur radio community in which all individuals can participate fully and safely. It aims not only to prevent discrimination, but to actively remove barriers to participation, promote equity, and create an environment where diversity is valued and inclusion is embedded in all that we do. The Society reviews all its policies regularly and this week it has published an updated Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy. The policy has clearer language to explain the responsibilities of Directors, staff, volunteers, RSGB members and affiliated clubs, as well as participants in RSGB events, training, and programmes. The policy also applies to all RSGB platforms and environments. The Society encourages all members and affiliated clubs to read the policy. You can find it on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/policies  The RSGB will review this policy at least annually and monitor its implementation to ensure continuous improvement. In April, the RSGB Exams Team published the entire Full licence exam question bank on the RSGB website. This means that anyone studying for their Full licence has this valuable resource at their fingertips. The interface also allows users to generate their own mock examinations from the question bank. Feedback by radio amateurs has said how useful the resource is and that anyone studying for their exam should take a look. To get started go to rsgb.org/exam-questions  The RSGB Examinations Standards Committee has also prepared some FAQs to support the publication of the question bank. You can access these on the Exam FAQs web page. Have you seen the ‘About the RSGB’ playlist on the Society’s YouTube channel? There are nearly 50 videos to choose from including a number of recently released videos with RSGB representatives. You’ll be able watch RSGB Propagation Studies Committee Chair Steve Nichols, G0KYA talk about a range of propagation topics including the best months for propagation and the possible effect of AI on propagation forecasts. If you’d like to learn more about the work of the RSGB EMC Committee, you can watch Committee Chair John Rogers, M0JAV discuss some of the upcoming projects it has planned. You can watch the full playlist by going to youtube.com/thersgb  The next Bath Based Distance Learning Full Licence course will run between August and December 2026. The course will include weekly tutorials and work packages via an online classroom as well as access to a remote tutor. Applicants must work through pre-course material and complete a quiz to be eligible for a place. To request full details, and an application form, please email Bath Based Distance Learning’s Team Lead

GB2RS News Sunday the 7th of June 2026 The news headlines: Discover how vibe coding can help radio amateurs RSGB Board Director attends ARISS International Conference Trio of RSGB experts added to the RSGB Convention programme RSGB Board Chair, Stewart Bryant, G3YSX, delivered a technical seminar called 'Vibe  Coding for radio amateurs' at the Four Days In May Symposium. The event was organised by the QRP ARCI and held before the start of the Dayton Hamvention. You can now enjoy the presentation from the comfort of your own home by watching it online at tinyurl.com/fdim-vibecoding  Stewart's presentation demonstrated additional things AI can do to aid radio amateurs. His talk was delivered to a packed audience and was based on the workshops he ran at last year's RSGB Convention and in Blackpool this April. If you are interested in finding out more about how radio amateurs can utilise AI, the RSGB is hosting workshops on the topic at its Convention in October. Find out more at rsgb.org/convention-workshops Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, or ARISS, held its annual conference in London last week. The event was organised by RSGB Representative to ARISS, Ciaran Morgan, M0XTD, and attended by Board Director Patrick Wood, 2E0IFB. On behalf of the RSGB President, Patrick delivered a short welcome at the event opening and attended an RSGB-sponsored evening reception along with other RSGB Board Directors. ARISS International contacts are a fantastic way to demonstrate the place of amateur radio within STEM, and the RSGB continues to support this excellent outreach work. The RSGB was a founding member of the European division of ARISS in the 1990s, along with AMSAT-UK, and is pleased it continues to be such a globally recognised STEM activity. The RSGB has added a trio of experts to its Convention programme. RSGB ETCC member John McCullagh, GI4BWM will deliver a lecture on ETCC, repeaters and new technology, whilst RSGB EMCC Chair Dr John Rogers, M0JAV will be on hand to enhance your knowledge on EMF exclusion zones. You’ll also be able to discover the results of the 12th of August eclipse propagation experiment with RSGB PSC Chair Steve Nichols, G0KYA. These presenters have years of experience in their field and this is your opportunity to learn directly from them. Join them at Kents Hill Conference Centre in Milton Keynes between 9-11 October by securing your ticket at rsgb.org/convention The Region 12 team is looking for a volunteer to become the District Representative for Cambridge. If you live in the area and are passionate about supporting local radio amateurs, then please get in touch with the Regional Representative Brian Woolnough, M5ADQ via rr12@rsgb.org.uk. The role of District Representative varies from attending rallies and making club visits, to supporting individual radio amateurs and responding to queries via email. View the full list of Regional Team vacancies by going to rsgb.org/volunteers After a three-year wait since the last World Radiosport Team Championship in Italy, WRTC 2026 in the UK is nearly upon us. The RSGB is proud to be an official partner of the event and will be highlighting UK participants in its ‘Photo Friday’ feature on social media. Each Friday throughout June, the Society will share an image showing you a different aspect of the Championship, from the UK team to a UK volunteer, a referee, and a member of the WRTC organising committee. Head to the RSGB’s Facebook, Instagram or X pages to see the latest post. You can also read more about WRTC on page 45 of the July edition of RadCom, which will be available from the 17th of June. The Blue Ham Team has been actively monitoring the 60m band over the past weeks. Due to the current propagation conditions, the team has decided to cancel the planned Exercise in June. The next Exercise is planned for October 2026, and updates will be provided closer to the time. For more information visit tinyurl.com/BlueHam26 Please send d

GB2RS News Sunday, the 31st of May 2026 The RSGB celebrates Volunteers’ Week 2026 The RSGB Youth Committee has announced the YOTA Austria team The closure of BBC Long Wave Volunteers’ Week 2026 begins tomorrow, Monday, the 1st of June. This national campaign is an opportunity for organisations like the RSGB to recognise the contribution and hard work of its volunteers. In celebration, the Society asked some of its volunteers why they chose to step forward. You’ll be able to see their answers and view more in-depth profiles from tomorrow via rsgb.org/volunteers-week. The answers, along with a short video, will also be shared on the RSGB’s social media channels throughout the week. If there is a volunteer you would like to thank, or you’d like to share your own volunteering story, please add a comment on the daily social media content that the RSGB will be posting. You can also see these profiles in the July edition of RadCom. Volunteers are at the heart of the work that the Society does, and on behalf of the RSGB Board, HQ and the amateur radio community, it would like to thank everyone who gives their time and expertise to support the RSGB across such a wide range of roles. The RSGB Youth Committee is delighted to announce the team for this year's Youngsters on the Air summer camp in Wagrain, Austria. Team leader Tom, M1TJM, will be joined by team members Filip, M7SZW and Milo, M9ILO. They will be going to the Austrian Alps at the end of July for a week of exciting activities and challenges designed to allow youth members to push their skills within amateur radio, while meeting other amateurs from across the world. The Youth Committee's hard work in promoting amateur radio to young people has seen great success, with applications increasing by 200%. All the applications received were outstanding, and the Committee was blown away by the calibre of enthusiastic youth members of amateur radio. Tom, Filip and Milo impressed them with their variety of interests and clear dedication to the hobby and promoting amateur radio. The RSGB looks forward to hearing what they get up to in Austria this summer! This year’s camp is being organised by ÖVSV, the Austrian Amateur Radio Society, and the IARU Region 1 Youth Committee. You can read more about the camp and the team at rsgb.org/yota-camp The BBC has announced that its Long Wave service on 198kHz, currently transmitting BBC Radio 4, will close on the 27th of June 2026 at 1 am BST. The Long Wave transmitters at Droitwich in Worcestershire, Westerglen near Stirling, and Burghead overlooking the Moray Firth will be closed that day. The RSGB and the BBC Amateur Radio Group will be marking this occasion on the air and are looking for volunteers to activate a special callsign in the week leading up to and including the day of the closure. In addition, three radio clubs have volunteered to activate special callsigns to celebrate the almost-92 years of these historic transmitters on the day that they are finally turned off. You can find more information on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/longwave-transmitters The weekend of the 13th and 14th of June is 1940s weekend at Bletchley Park. The RSGB National Radio Centre will be open to visitors and is supporting the occasion by hosting the special event station GB1SOE using CW on 40m. There will also be a display of World War Two radios. Remember that RSGB Members can gain free access to the Bletchley Park museum by downloading and printing the entry voucher via rsgb.org/bpvoucher The May 2026 issue of RadCom Basics is now available in the RSGB mobile and web app for members to enjoy. RadCom Basics is aimed at newcomers to amateur radio and those who enjoy refreshing their skills and knowledge. The May issue includes articles on DMR for beginners, building a 2m and 70cm travel antenna and understanding radio waves. The full collection of RadCom Basics back issues can be found in the RSGB app or via rsgb.org/radcom Please send details of a

GB2RS News Sunday, the 24th of May 2026 The news headlines: Volunteer at the RSGB National Radio Centre Buy your RSGB 2026 Convention ticket at 2025 prices Tonight@8 is back in June The RSGB National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park welcomes thousands of people through its doors each month, and in 2025 it was recognised in TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards. Much of this success can be attributed to the amazing team of volunteers. They share a strong sense of pride, enthusiasm and have a wonderful team spirit, all with the purpose of promoting amateur radio. If this sounds like something you would like to be part of, the NRC is now looking for extra volunteers to join its team. If you enjoy meeting people and are able to work a minimum of one or two days per month, get in touch with the NRC Coordinator, Martyn Baker, G0GMB, via nrc.support@rsgb.org.uk. Find out more about volunteering at the NRC by watching a short video on the RSGB’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/thersgb  and selecting the ‘Volunteering for the RSGB’ playlist. The RSGB wants to make its Convention as accessible to as many people as possible. That’s why it has frozen ticket prices, and you can buy this year’s ticket at last year’s price! This means you can make the most of the early-bird pricing and buy your weekend ticket for just £49. On top of this, the Society has confirmed that, as usual, under-21s can attend the Convention for free. This week, the RSGB also announced further speakers to its growing programme. You’ll find engaging and informative presentations from Adrian Ciuperca, KO8SCA, on the 3Y0K DXpedition to Bouvet Island, as well as Christian Entsfellner, DL3MBG, on the DARC QSL Bureau and the cooperation with the RSGB. It has also confirmed that Ian Henry, G0LFT will be delivering a lecture on understanding FT8 through DNA-sequencing parallels, which was featured in the May 2026 edition of RadCom. Go to rsgb.org/convention to secure your tickets and guarantee your place at this not-to-be-missed event. The Convention will be held at Kents Hill Park Conference Centre in Milton Keynes between the 9th and 11th of October. Following a break in May, the RSGB’s Tonight@8 series is back on Monday, the 8th of June, with a fascinating webinar by John Warburton, G4IRN, on building a remote station. If you live in an area where restrictions such as conservation areas may limit your activity, this is for you. Following his move to rural Shropshire in 2020 and encountering conservation area restrictions, he decided to develop a fully remote HF contest and DX station. In this presentation, John outlines the search for a suitable site and the key technical and operational lessons gained from several years of remote operation over Internet and 4G links. You can join the webinar live via the RSGB’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/theRSGB or its special BATC channel at batc.org.uk/live/rsgb. Keep up to date with the latest programme by visiting rsgb.org/webinars The RSGB Board has announced further updates to the Board Liaison roles. Go to rsgb.org/ board to view the full list of responsibilities for each Board Director. RSGB Members will be able to use this as a guide to help them know who to contact if they have questions, concerns or ideas about any areas of the Society’s activities. You can contact each Board Director via the email address shown by their name. The RSGB team had a very successful time at the Dayton Hamvention last week. They spoke to hundreds of attendees, signed up a lot of new members, and were delighted by the very positive response to the RSGB app. Many radio amateurs hadn’t realised that as an RSGB member, they can read RadCom Basics, RadCom Plus and 25 years of back issues of RadCom all in one place and were keen to sign up to membership as a result. Two AGM trophies were also presented in person by RSGB President Bob Beebe, GU4YOX and RSGB Board Chair Stewart Bryant, G3YSX. Look out for a fuller report in the July issue o

GB2RS News Sunday, the 17th of May 2026 The news headlines: The RSGB releases a new set of mock exam papers Which RSGB Convention workshop will you take part in? Listen to Milton Keynes Hospital radio for an interview with the RSGB National Radio Centre Coordinator The RSGB Exams Team is pleased to publish new mock exam papers for Foundation and Intermediate levels. There are three for each level, and you can find them on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/mock-exams. These take into account all the changes to the syllabus and exam question bank which have been made since the last sets of mock exam papers were published. The Exams Team will not be publishing new mock papers for the Full level as the entire Full licence question bank is now available online. Candidates and Trainers can create their own full-level mock papers using the questions at rsgb.org/exam-questions The RSGB is running a practical and thought-provoking workshop for radio amateurs, makers, and home constructors, who want to understand what AI really is, what it is good at, where it can go wrong and why it matters. The session will run during the RSGB Convention on both Saturday, the 10th and Sunday, the 11th of October. It will use plain English and real examples from personal projects and will show how large language models can act as useful thinking partners for learning, writing, coding and building. At only £15 for a two-hour session, this is an opportunity not to be missed. As well as this, the Society is running an additional workshop on Friday, the 9th of October. In this six-hour workshop, you will learn how to use the NanoVNA effectively, understand its practical limitations and apply it confidently in your shack. You will also learn to calibrate the device correctly and complete hands-on exercises using your own NanoVNA. This RSGB member-only workshop costs £50 and includes lunch and refreshments. Both workshops are filled on a first-come, first-served basis and are limited to 20 people per session. Book now at rsgb.org/convention Listen out for RSGB National Radio Centre Coordinator Martyn Baker, G0GMB on Milton Keynes Hospital radio tomorrow, Monday the 18th of May. Martyn met presenter Sophie at the Hospital Broadcasting Association’s annual conference in March, when NRC volunteers spoke with attendees about amateur radio. During the interview, you’ll hear Martyn talking about a range of topics, from why amateur radio can be an exciting and rewarding hobby to his work at the Centre and the role of the RSGB. He will also explain how amateur radio can contribute to mental well-being and prevent social isolation. You can listen to the broadcast from 1 pm by going to mkhrs.org.uk  and selecting ‘click to listen’ in the top right-hand corner. Today, Sunday the 17th of May, is the last day of Mental Health Awareness week, and this year’s campaign looks at taking action to support good mental health. The RSGB highlights some of the small actions that radio amateurs can do that can have a big impact. This includes showing kindness to one another, listening to each other and taking a few extra minutes to engage in a conversation. Over four days in May and June, Humber Fortress DX Amateur Radio Club is playing its part in raising awareness for men’s mental health. Club members will be operating special call sign GB0MMH, and they are inviting radio amateurs to make contact. As the club says, let’s break the silence one transmission at a time. Find out more on QRZ.com  and support this great initiative. If you have a story you’d like to share that relates to amateur radio and mental health, please email comms@rsgb.org.uk Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk. The deadline for submissions is 10 am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week.   And now for details of rallies and events Today, Sunday the 17th, Dunstable Downs Radio Rally is taking place at Stockwood Park in Luton. The boot sale is open to traders

GB2RS News Sunday, the 10th of May 2026 The news headlines: RSGB Board liaison roles announced Women in amateur radio and STEM A message from the RSGB President at the 2026 AGM Each RSGB Board Director has a liaison role between the Board and specific aspects of the Society’s work. This focuses very much on the work done by RSGB volunteers in committees, groups and teams as well as by the Honorary Officers and Champions. In a role swap that has been planned for some time, Ben Lloyd, GW4BML, will become Board Liaison for the RSGB Regional Team and Nathan Nuttall, MM9OCC, will become Board Liaison for the RSGB Youth Committee. New Board member Graham Smith, G4NMD, has taken on responsibility for the exam portfolio previously held by retired director Len Paget, GM0ONX. Other roles and responsibilities will be announced shortly. In the interim, if you have any doubts as to where to direct an enquiry regarding a Board Liaison matter, please contact Board Chair Stewart Bryant, G3YSX. To find out more or to see contact details for each Board Director, go to rsgb.org/board This year, International Women in Engineering Day takes place on the 23rd of June 2026. It is a celebration of the amazing work of women engineers across the globe. People who have an interest in amateur radio often work in careers related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, also known as STEM. STEM subjects can be an effective way for the RSGB to introduce amateur radio to new audiences and young people. To mark the day, the Society is planning to share stories of how amateur radio has helped female engineers in their lives and careers. The theme for International Women in Engineering Day 2026 is Engineering Intelligence and is an opportunity to recognise the women engineers who solve complex challenges and help drive change. Are you involved in a research project? Perhaps you are designing something new, or reworking a project to make it more accessible to others? Maybe you’re part of a team that is analysing data to find a solution to a problem? Whatever your story, the Society would love to hear from you so it can help to inspire future generations of girls and young women. If you’d like to share your story, please send a photo and a summary of what you have been doing to comms@rsgb.org.uk  by the 31st of May. Membership sits at the heart of the RSGB, and at its AGM in April, RSGB President Bob Beebe, GU4YOX, shared a message on this important topic. During his video message, Bob spoke about the wide range of services that the RSGB offers its members. He went on to explain that the Society is reviewing its membership offering and how that will be implemented in the coming months. This important message is available for all radio amateurs to watch via the RSGB YouTube channel. Go to youtube.com/thersgb  and select the RSGB 2026 AGM playlist to start watching now. Remember to share this video with your friends, local club and the rest of the amateur radio community. The BBC has announced that the Droitwich Transmitter on 198kHz will be permanently closed down in 2026. The Scottish Long Wave transmitters at Burghead and Westerglen will also be turned off. The Droitwich transmitter was commissioned during September 1934. These transmissions have always been part of our lives as radio enthusiasts. A date has not yet been formally given, but the BBC is committing to providing two months’ notice to listeners. The RSGB and the BBC Amateur Radio Group are planning to mark this occasion on the air. More details of how this will be achieved will be available soon. Please email ContestClub@rsgbcc.org  if you would like to register your interest. Remember to listen out for the stations that are taking part in the Mills on the Air event today, the 10th of May. Radio amateurs are on the air from a wide range of interesting locations and are keen to take your call. Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk. The deadli

GB2RS News Sunday, the 3rd of May 2026 The news headlines: Ticket sales for the RSGB 2026 Convention are now open! RSGB appoints a new volunteer Accessibility Champion FCC authorises commercial satellite constellation use in the 70cm band You can now buy tickets for the RSGB 2026 Convention in Milton Keynes. The event takes place between the 9th and 11th of October and is a must for any radio amateur looking to learn, connect and be inspired. Several lecturers have already been confirmed, and include Nobby Styles, G0VJG, talking about the South Georgia DXpedition in March 2027, as well as recent Wortley-Talbot Trophy winner Gwyn Griffiths, G3ZIL, on HF propagation studies from the Baldock space weather station. Ticket sales for workshops taking place over the weekend are also open. These are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and with only 20 spaces available for each, secure your place now to ensure you don’t miss out. Go to rsgb.org/convention  to read the latest Convention news and purchase your tickets. RSGB Board Director Nathan Nuttall, MM9OCC, has announced that Jane Joyce, M8WVJ, has been appointed as the new RSGB Accessibility Champion. Jane brings a wealth of experience in the areas of disability and accessibility, making her ideally suited to this important role. As Accessibility Champion, she will share real stories from members that highlight both the challenges and successes within the hobby, helping to raise awareness and improve understanding of accessibility issues. Jane will also be available to help direct individuals to the support they need, which will help to improve accessibility across amateur radio as a whole, and she will advise the RSGB on meaningful improvements. Jane can be contacted via the email address access.champion@rsgb.org.uk In the USA the FCC has authorised AST-SpaceMobile to launch its full constellation of 248 large satellites that includes 430-440MHz for emergency telemetry and control when not over the United States. This is despite there being no such frequency allocation. However, the FCC permitted the use of the frequencies using Article 4.4 of the ITU Radio Regulations. This follows an initial filing and review last year, and extensive amateur concerns that resulted in over 2,500 comments being submitted. The IARU has released a statement on the matter, which you can read via tinyurl.com/IARU-AST  The RSGB has more background and earlier responses on its Spectrum Forum web page at tinyurl.com/RSGB-AST RSGB club insurance, and beacon and repeater insurance, have now been renewed for the year from the 30th of April 2026 to April 2027. Club insurance certificates can be downloaded via rsgb.org/repeaterinsurance. You will need to log in to obtain your certificate. Beacon and repeater insurance certificates are available for an admin fee of £15 from the RSGB shop. Please allow a couple of days after renewal for your certificate to be dispatched. The Society would like to remind RSGB members with G7 callsigns who collect QSL cards that they should now send their stamped addressed envelopes to Mr Anthony Holles, G4AAV. You can find his details in the sub-manager list of the RSGB QSL Bureau web section at rsgb.org/qsl  Volunteers at the RSGB National Radio Centre will be operating the GB2BP special event station on Friday, the 8th and Saturday, the 9th of May, to commemorate the anniversary of VE Day. Put the date in your diary and make sure you add this callsign to your logbook. RSGB members, don’t forget you can receive free entry to Bletchley Park, which includes the NRC, by downloading and printing your personalised voucher at rsgb.org/bpvoucher The annual Mills on the Air event is taking place on Saturday, the 9th and Sunday, the 10th of May. Operators will be on the air from a variety of historic locations. If you hear them, make sure to give them a call. Don't forget to listen out for the stations that are taking part in this year’s Pubs and Clubs on the Air even

GB2RS News Sunday, the 26th of April 2026 The news headlines: The RSGB Board holds its first post-AGM meeting RSGB 2026 Convention announcement Celebrate World Morse Day with the RSGB Following the RSGB 2026 AGM on Saturday, the 18th of April, the new Board met and co-opted Dr Stewart Bryant, G3YSX, onto the Board under Article 37. The Board then elected Dr Bryant as Board Chair. The purpose of these decisions is to allow newly elected Directors to learn more about the Society and the Board, with the intention that a new Board Chair will be elected from within the new Board in due course. The RSGB Board would like to record its thanks to Stewart for being willing to extend his role in this way. Board Directors also appointed Will Richardson, 2E0WYA, to the volunteer role of Executive Director of Strategic Oversight to help drive forward work on Board effectiveness. As announced previously, Stephen Purser, GW4SHF and Stephen Ramsden, M0CCA, swapped roles after the AGM, so Stephen Ramsden is now Company Secretary and Stephen Purser is Deputy Company Secretary. The Board congratulated John Moss, G0KTW and Ben Lloyd, GW4BML, on their election as Directors and Patrick Wood, 2E0IFB and Graham Smith, G4NMD, on their endorsement as Nominated Directors. The Board Liaison roles are being discussed and will be announced in due course. If you were unable to join the event live, you can catch up with all the AGM proceedings at rsgb.org/agm  Tickets for the RSGB 2026 Convention go on sale on Friday, the 1st of May, and ahead of this, the Society has made some exciting announcements. Not only has it released the first round of speakers, including one on a highly anticipated DXpedition, but it has also shared details of two new workshops that will be taking place. Will you choose NanoVNA Essentials or AI – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly? For those looking to extend the weekend’s activities, the RSGB has confirmed that it has partnered with The National Museum of Computing to offer Convention attendees the opportunity to visit on Friday, the 9th of October. The RSGB is delighted that this fantastic annual event is being sponsored by Martin Lynch & Sons and that AMSAT-UK will once again be holding its Colloquium during the Convention this year. The RSGB 2026 Convention is taking place between the 9th and 11th of October at Kents Hill Conference Centre in Milton Keynes. Find out more by going to rsgb.org/convention Tomorrow, Monday the 27th, is World Morse Day. The day honours the birthday of the inventor of Morse code, Samuel Morse, who was born on this day in 1791. The RSGB is continuing its annual celebrations of this day by releasing a video with a question in Morse code for you to answer, which this year is sent by the RSGB CW Champion, Laura Robertson, MM7BFL. Once you have used your Morse skills to decipher the question, get involved by leaving your answer in the comments section under the post. You could even share a video of you sending your answer in Morse! You can view the video tomorrow on the RSGB YouTube channel, or via the RSGB’s Facebook, Instagram or X pages.  RSGB members, if you are planning a trip this spring, why not include a visit to one of the Society’s partner museums? Whether you’re heading to West Wales, Cornwall, Suffolk, Dorset, West Sussex or Milton Keynes, you will be able to save between 20% and 50% on standard admission prices. Visit rsgb.org/partner-museums for your personalised discount voucher. RSGB members also receive free entry to Bletchley Park, which includes the RSGB National Radio Centre. Time is running out to apply and be part of the RSGB team that will be going to Austria for this year’s Youngsters on the Air summer camp. This fantastic opportunity is for radio amateurs aged between 16 and 30. The programme will include activities such as experimenting with underground propagation, Summits on the Air, Caves on the Air, as well as having the chance to ascend a 2,000m summit in a cab